side players." The Raptors train Thursday in Toronto before dep

MADRID, Spain -- Barcelona defender Dani Alves has received an outpouring of support for his response to a racist taunt during a game, while Villarreal issued a lifetime ban to the season-ticket holder who threw a banana at him. Dominique Wilkins Jersey . Alves, who is black, was about to take a corner in Sundays 3-2 win at Villarreals El Madrigal Stadium when a banana landed on the pitch in front of him. The Brazil international picked it up, peeled it and ate some of it before throwing the rest aside. "Villarreal deeply regrets and condemns the incident that happened," Villarreal said in a statement on Monday. "The club has already identified the (culprit) and has decided to withdraw his season tickets, permanently." After the match, Alves said humour was the best way to combat racism in sport. That sentiment has led fellow football players, officials and even political figures from around the globe to respond with solidarity by picturing themselves eating a banana. Barcelona teammate Neymar posted a photo of himself on Instagram holding a peeled banana alongside his son, who was holding a doll that resembled a banana. Fellow Brazil teammates Hulk and Fred also lent support via their social media accounts. Argentina striker Sergio Aguero and Brazil womens striker Marta both posed for photos while biting into bananas, while former Brazil international Roberto Carlos also posted an internet photo of himself with the fruit. "We have suffered this in Spain for some time," Alves said Sunday. "You have to take it with a dose of humour. We arent going to change things easily. If you dont give it importance, they dont achieve their objective." Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who has been actively condemning racist acts in Brazilian football, also expressed her support to Alves, while Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Italy national team coach Cesare Prandelli also shared a banana in a photograph. "The player had a daring and strong response to racism in sport," Rousseff wrote on her official Twitter account. "Confronted by something that unfortunately has become too common in stadiums, Alves had attitude." Rousseff praised Neymar for getting behind his teammate and reiterated that Brazil will "raise the flag against racial discrimination" during the World Cup. FIFA President Sepp Blatter also commented on Twitter, saying that "what (Alves) tolerated last night is an outrage." He added that there "will be zero tolerance" at the World Cup. The match referee on Sunday included the 75th-minute incident in his match report, so Villarreal could face a fine. "Our club would like to express its firm commitment to promoting respect, equality, sportsmanship and fair play both on and off the field and our absolute rejection of any act that is contrary to these principles, such as violence, discrimination, racism and xenophobia," Villarreal added in its statement. Alves has often been subjected to racist taunts and called fighting racism "a lost war" in January 2013 after segments of Real Madrids fans abused him with monkey chants during a match. Madrid defender Marcelo, who is also Brazilian, was also recently greeted with monkey chants by a section of Atletico Madrid fans this season. Former Barcelona striker Samuel Etoo was convinced not to walk off at Zaragoza in 2006 after fans berated the Cameroon striker with racist chants. Two years earlier, Spain fans at Madrids Santiago Bernabeu Stadium infamously greeted Englands black players with monkey chants during an international friendly match. Cam Reddish Hawks Jersey . Nick Holden scored two goals and had an assist and the Avalanche held off the Nashville Predators 5-4 Saturday night for their fourth straight victory. Custom Atlanta Hawks Jerseys . Louis, MO (SportsNetwork. https://www.thehawkslockerroom.com/Mike-Bibby-City-Edition-Jersey/ . Booth picked up 65 caps after making her national team debut in 2002 at the age of 17. She most recently played for Sky Blue FC of the National Womens Soccer League. "It just felt like it was my time to move on," she said in a phone interview from her hometown of Burlington, Ont.TORONTO -- Jonas Valanciunas was knocked about by some of the biggest and best centres in the league in an inauspicious start to his NBA career. Roy Hibbert, Brook Lopez, Al Jefferson, Kevin Garnett -- no matter the night, it was going to be a long one for the Toronto Raptors rookie. And as Valanciunass debut went, so went the Raptors, it seems. "Jonas took his whuppin last year early," said Raptors coach Dwane Casey. "We were 3 and 19 (to start the season). (Opponents) saw something good to eat with a rookie at centre. That had something to do with our points in the paint, our rim protection. . ." But the growth of the young Lithuanian over the course of the season became one of Caseys biggest sources of pride in a campaign he otherwise didnt have a lot to be thrilled about. "He had to learn. We knew that going in, that it was going to be ugly," Casey said. "But as the year went on you could see a young man growing, and it continued through this summer. Its not a finished product yet but hes getting there and I really like what we have." What Casey has is a stronger, more confident Valanciunas, whose command of English is also much improved from a year ago -- evident in his attempt at rapping when asked on media day for his favourite Drake song. "Started from the bottom now were here," Valanciunas said in his Lithuanian accent, prompting much laughter. But Valanciunas, whos considered a huge piece of the franchises future after the Raptors selected him with their No. 5 pick in the 2011 draft, has been otherwise all business in his approach to his sophomore season. The seven-foot centre has put on weight. Hes noticeably broader across the chest, his arms are thicker. Lithuanian national team coach Kestutis Kemzura went so far as to say Valanciunas had put on too much weight. "His coach is a great coach, does a great job," Casey said of Kemzura. "But his gradual increasing his weight will be good for him. Were not trying to rush him to get bigger, just maintain his strength. Hes got some obstacles to go against in the paint, and if you dont have some girth. . . youre in for trouble. Hes learning to play with that extra weight right now so were not concerned about it." The 21-year-old Valanciunas made 57 starts for Toronto last season, averaging 8.9 points and 6.0 rebounds. His field goal percentage, rebounds and blocks ranked among the leagues top-three for rookies. He went on to shine for tthe Raptors in the Las Vegas Summer League, winning tournament MVP honours, and then helped Lithuania to its first Euroleague final in 10 years. Trae Young Hawks Jersey. Hes healthy this camp, after a calf injury sidelined him for last years camp. And his teammates say the changes in the big Lithuanian from last season are obvious. "Hes extremely tanned right now. I dont know where that came from," joked Landry Fields. "Hes looking a lot bigger, a lot stronger, and more comfortable this year. "With him toward the end of the season last year, you could really see him get comfortable with who he is, and his role on the team, and I think with more practice, and the pre-season, what we saw toward the end of last year will come along at the beginning of this year." Valanciunas continues to take English classes and Fields said the improvement in his ability to communicate with teammates has been huge. "That is definitely something that will help him in his comfort level, and us with him, when we try to explain something, hes understanding. That just takes his learning curve that much higher," Fields said. "As soon as he gets it down pat to where its almost kind of slang, then well really be getting somewhere. Looking forward to that." Valanciunas isnt ready to talk about his rate of improvement, preferring to say he still has a long way to go. "If Im not going to work nothing is going to happen," he said, when asked for his thoughts on being the future of the franchise. "It depends how I work, and how is going to be my learning process. Im not thinking Now Im a future star. I know Im a simple guy, and I have to work really hard to one day be a star." Former NBA all-star and Toronto native Jamaal Magloire is helping him put in that work in a training camp all the big men say has been physically intense thus far. "Huge," Casey said on Magloires role. "He beats the crap out of J.V. every day. He gets him used to the contact. "We have some two-on-one drills where (Magloire) still gets in there and cracks people, they know its not like a little coach in there with pads on, its a real seven-foot guy who will knock you on your butt if you dont come in the right way. Jamaal does a great job of that, hes still in shape, and hes done a heck of a job of being a vocal and physical mentor to a lot of our inside players." The Raptors train Thursday in Toronto before departing for Halifax for two days. ' ' '